Things Men Say They Hate, But Secretly Enjoy

Men — we're simple creatures. We like meat, we scratch ourselves in public and we cheer every time someone in a uniform chases a ball. Look beneath the surface, however, and you'll find we harbor our own fair share of guilty pleasures — pleasures so secretive that men around the globe have conspired to keep them under wraps... until now.

So what do we say we hate, but secretly enjoy? The list might surprise you.

Gymnastics

Why we say we don't like it: Any sport with bars that are still uneven after this many years clearly doesn't have its act together.

Why we secretly enjoy it: We don't know the rules and we couldn't care less whether America wins the gold, but damn it if we don't have a soft spot in our hearts for flexible girls in leotards. In addition to satisfying our sporting joneses, gymnastics also provide us with more gorgeous Russian villainesses than a dozen James Bond movies combined.

TV shows for women

Why we say we don't like them: If we wanted to spend the night watching women scream and cry, we'd just proposition our girlfriend's roommate.

Why we secretly enjoy them: In two words: eye candy. From Teri Hatcher and Eva Longoria to Jennifer Beals and Mia Kirshner, shows like Desperate Housewives and The L Word are loaded with sizzling hotties. Plus, every now and again, you actually get to see them lock lips. Frankly, what's not to enjoy?

Cosmo magazine

Why we secretly enjoy it: Sure, the articles are inane, but pound for pound, no magazine outside of Play..boy flashes more cleavage on its cover. Dare to look inside and you'll also get an incredibly candid look at the delicate inner workings of the female mind. On second thought, stick with the cover; it's far more entertaining.

Foreplay

Why we say we don't like it: Who has the time? When you know you're only going to last two minutes, you have to make every second count.

Why we secretly enjoy it: For some men, the idea of foreplay is the phrase, "Brace yourself!" For others, however, foreplay is even better than sex itself. For starters, it's more passionate, it's more intimate and it sometimes even lasts a full two minutes. Whichever way you stack it up, foreplay means more touching and more caressing, and unless your partner is also your cellmate, that's never a bad thing.

Do we really hate fashion shows on TV and our girlfriend's peeps? Nah...

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